3/15/15 5:32 PM

[img][URL=http://s60.photobucket.com/user/dfcas/media/P1010372.jpg.html] [/URL][/img]


So I bought a Hammond A100 as I threatened to some time back. It is the same as a B-3, but also has a power amp and built in speakers. I don't plan to use the power amp and speakers, as I am searching for a Leslie 122 speaker for it. B-3 prices have gone nuts and i got a bargain on this one, so I'm thrilled. I have not played for 30 years, and I'm really rusty. This will be a long term hobby/project and these things require a lot of care and feeding.

3/15/15 5:43 PM

Cool beans, Have fun.

Think you can get the 122 without amp-ping up the investment at least another 1500.00 ?

Hope you will post a mp3 or VID with some grindy Leslie tones going on...

Maybe something like a BBE Soul Vibe Rotary Speaker Simulator Pedal will hold you off until you get the 122.

You may appreciate this, I just nailed a JBL K130 Alnico 15 recently. ;) eBay snipe, but I drove 35 miles ea way to get it. For the $100.00 I did not mind too much.

3/15/15 7:00 PM

Back in my day there was nothing even close to a JBL speaker, as they were so much better than anything thing else. Have others gotten better or is this JBL going to be better than what you have?

3/15/15 7:31 PM

or is this JBL going to be better than what you have?

Short answer is mostly. But the real edge of the JBL is the sensitivity that goes along with the response IMO, no to mention great tone for what I would do/use.

The sensitivity is as high as anything every made. I have probably 3-5 other speaker that approach it's spec. They all don't sound as good to me. Not sure if that answers the question.

The beauty of such high sensitivity is I can use a 15 watt amp and both be loud enough and cut the mix and not be too loud if that makes any sense.

3/15/15 7:46 PM

Are Leslies still available? I look forward to hearing this thing!

3/15/15 8:24 PM

You can still get new, tube type Leslie's if you have the 3700 bills. I hope to get a decent used one under $1000.

3/15/15 8:36 PM

" I hope to get a decent used one under $1000."

You and everyone else I would speculate. Hope you can/do though.

Regarding rotating drivers, here is one of my cobbles. I stuck a Conn organ 'Leslie' donor unit into an Ampeg 412 Cabinet with one 12 also. I could run just the 8" Jensen in the unit, just the 12" driver or both and set up two speeds all switching via a pedal I made. Sold that also, so as not to drag it to the PNW in the great Nashville clean out of 2011. I had folks fighting for it, and I didn't exactly price it low either. ;)

<img src="http://coupekiss.host-ed.me/images/tdpri/0_S5030573.JPG" width 584>

3/15/15 8:42 PM

A clean 122 sold on eBay for 879 a few days ago and 1 ends tonite, but it is too far away. Resellers are trying to buy them up and make some money. I just have to get there first.

3/15/15 8:47 PM

Really?? Well if you are like me you will just wait until you get it for what you are willing to pay. I waited 8 years for my 1963 Fender Pro Brownface amp. I doubt the 122 is quite a scarce as a 63 Fender amp.

3/16/15 3:43 AM

The one last night ended up at $995 which included a worthless model M with it, so I have hope.

3/16/15 6:18 PM

I don't think I could get any GooGoo Dolls out of that thing.

3/17/15 9:16 AM

Congrats on the A-100. It's often said that the best B-3s are A-100s, since many of them sat in living rooms instead of being gigged hard.

Vintage keys (and Leslie) pricing is very erratic. If you can be patient, bargains are out there. Among vintage Leslies, the short cab models (142, 145) and the single speed models (22H, 21H, 31H, etc.) can be bargains. (And the single speed models can be converted to two speed later.)

As much as I love the two vintage Leslies hooked up to my B, in a blind test, I would probably have difficulty distinguishing them from a Neo Ventilator sim pedal.

Re them needing a lot of love and caring, these are some of the most durable,over-engineered devices ever built. After you've taken care of some of the typical aging issues (re-capping the pre-amp and the Leslie crossover, maybe replacing the upstop and downstop felts, etc.) these things are often good for another 50 years with just an annual oiling.

Enjoy your Hammond!

Alan

3/17/15 10:17 AM

I may need to be in touch for advice. I'm not very good with electronics but I am studying a course online. I don't know that I will play it that much, as it is one of the things on my bucket list to do. I miss the days playing out but have no desire to do it again.

3/17/15 11:14 AM

quote:

---

I miss the days playing out but have no desire to do it again.

---

3/17/15 11:15 AM

Miss playing out.

At least these days you got a high chance of being in non smoking environments, for you and the gear. If you smoke of course, not such a good thing maybe... ;)

3/18/15 7:20 AM

For solo acts, house concerts (concerts literally in a house, with the homeowner/host responsible for everything but transportation) seem to be one wave of the future for live music. I've been to a couple of these and they were pretty pleasant.

4/3/15 5:10 PM

I bought another organ that included a Leslie for a great deal. I'm working on cleaning it up, oiling the motors, etc.

[img][URL=http://s60.photobucket.com/user/dfcas/media/P1010375.jpg.html] [/URL][/img]

4/3/15 5:42 PM

Yeah, baby!! ;)

4/4/15 6:38 AM

122?

Looks like it escaped the usual "improvements," like removing the horn deflectors and the bass rotor scrim cloth. Does it have the original Jensen V21 treble driver -- and if so, does it still sound good?

Alan

4/4/15 6:50 AM

Yes, its a 122. Was in a funeral home that was closed for some years and has not been used much. True living room queen. Yes on the Jensens.

Now I have to do something with the CV that came with it....

I got a cable and I assume I can use the connector kit from the CV on my A100.

4/4/15 10:39 AM

Donate it before it grows roots to the floor at your place...

Get the write-off for the full 300. Lower effective cost down even more from that exorbitant 300 expenditure. ;)

Well, write-off 150 anyway. ;) Gotta be a school or church that would be happy to have...

Last edited by Sparky on 4/4/15 12:29 PM; edited 1 time in total

4/4/15 12:00 PM

>>Now I have to do something with the CV that came with it.... >>

Hey, it's like bikes. You can't have too many, and each has its unique charm.

>> I assume I can use the connector kit from the CV on my A100.>>

I'm not the best source on this, but a significant difference is that the CV preamp needs a B+ power supply (which is roughly 200 volts) fed from the Leslie back to the organ. The A-100 does not. I'm not sure whether you can use the same connector kit, but you certainly don't want to mimic the CV pinouts on the A100.

(Add the usual warnings here about frying yourself or burning down your house when dealing with high voltages...)

So, if you don't know what you're doing, this may be a good time to get some advice from a tech. If you don't know a local one, you might want to contact Rick Prevallet at http://tonewheelgeneral.com/ . Great tech, great service, generous with his advice -- and he sells everything you might need at fair prices.

Alan

4/4/15 4:56 PM

No, I really don't have room for it.

I knew that B?CV's got power from the hammond cabinet, so I assumed the Leslie replaced that. I was thinking I'd ask Tonewheel general or BB to look at my kit, label the wires, etc before I install it. Unless of course they tell me to get a different kit.

I did get a cable with it too, which is expensive too. A new cable is now $125.

5/22/15 5:31 PM

Get that baby grinding yet ?

5/22/15 5:48 PM

Yes. Sold the CV, got the correct kit for the A100-leslie and it sounds great. Now I'm looking for a Rhodes....